AUNDECK OMNI KANING—Denis Audette has won several championships in events played at Rainbow Ridge Golf Course (RRGC) in Manitowaning in the past, but he had never won an off-Island tournament until the Senior Men’s Northern Golf Association (NGA) championship earlier this month.
The 2024 senior men’s NGA championship took place at Huron Pines Golf Course in Blind River on June 1. The tournament was also a qualifier for the Ontario Men’s Amateur championship tournament.
Mr. Audette posted an 18-hole score of par 72 to win the senior men’s championship by three strokes. “My short game and my chipping were really good, and I was making some putts.”
Mr. Audette, 61, also has a pretty good long game as well, averaging 280 yards off the tee and reaching over 300 yards at times.
“This championship dates back to 1926 so it is quite an achievement to win this tournament,” continued Mr. Audette. There was a total of 15 of the best senior players in Northern Ontario competing at this championship.
Huron Pines, “is definitely a challenging course, but the course is in great shape. The greens are immaculate,” said Mr. Audette.
Mr. Audettte also qualified for the NGA mid-amateur championship also held at Huron Pines on June 2. He didn’t do as well as hoped, shooting 85. “I almost left after six holes; the mosquitoes were so bad. I couldn’t even stand over the ball without getting bit. The mosquitoes were bad Saturday, but a whole lot worse Sunday.”
Mr. Audette is no stranger to winning, having won the RRGC mixed division championship six or seven times, the men’s title four times and the club championship about eight times.
Interestingly, he got a late start in his golf career. “No, I never touched a golf club until I was 39 years old,” he told The Expositor. “I was self-taught but about seven years ago I took lessons from Rae McNichol of Espanola. His lessons really helped me. I tip my hat to him for all his help.”
As if winning a prestigious tournament is not enough, Mr. Audette also notched a hole in one on the 11th hole (the third of his lifetime) at RRGC in May. He also tied for fifth in the Champion of Champions event last year at a tournament held at Bond Head Golf Course.
With his victory at the NGA senior men’s Mr. Audette was one of three players in the tournament who qualified for the All-Ontario Senior Men’s championship taking place July 21-23 in Brockville. “I’m really looking forward to that tournament. If I am fortunate to win there it would qualify me for the All-Canadian championship.”
